My Wishlist

RIDE AWAY

Heart-stirring, lushly layered harmonies evoking windswept prairies, far blue peaks, and the great lone places. Nominated ALBUM OF THE YEAR, 2010, BEST ORIGINAL SONG (13 Voices), and BEST TRADITIONAL WESTERN ALBUM by an Individual - Western Music Ass'n

"Ride Away" takes its title from the soundtrack of John Ford's 1956 masterpiece, "The Searchers." The film, and its music, has been with me all my life.

As on "Yondering," the songs of "Ride Away" celebrate the beauty of the wild and the road of the rover. Some of the selections are new. Some are little known or rarely heard. One or two could almost be called "folk." I chose each because it was a gem, and I believe "Ride Away," like "Yondering," will cross genres and appeal to a wide range of music enthusiasts.

Two of the songs, "My Shadow and the Moon" and "Thirteen Voices," were written for the album by Ken DeAngelis, whose compositions have been compared by critics to those of Harry Chapin and Simon & Garfunkel.

"Thirteen Voices" (Music by Ken DeAngelis, Lyrics by Ken DeAngelis & Amy Ober) was inspired by Amy's and my acquaintance with the Lakota elder, Beatrice Weasel Bear of "The Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers." The efforts of these extraordinary leaders from the Americas, Tibet, Africa, and the Arctic to save life on this planet are documented in a forthcoming film, "For The Next 7 Generations."

I’m excited to share the songs of "Ride Away," and particularly honored to bring "Thirteen Voices" to the public.

"Ride Away is a worthy companion to Rich's previous album, Yondering. This one is a mixture of old familiar Sons of the Pioneers' songs and new creations, all tasting of the American West. The instrumental arrangements instill a mystical feeling to the Native American songs and make an exquisite setting for that little gem, Colorado Trail. Two of Bob Nolan's greatest songs are included - one joyful, the other melancholy." (Elizabeth Drake McDonald, co-author of Bob Nolan: 1908-1980)

"Ride Away" is the follow-up album to Rich Flanders' "Yondering", featuring primarily music of the American West but also some original songs by Ken DeAngelis. This is not "country" music, but "western" music and there is indeed a difference. Highlights include "The White Buffalo", written for an episode of Rin Tin Tin in the 1950's and the wonderful "Thirteen Voices", a trbute to the Thirteen Grandmothers, a council of indigenous elders form around the world, but I truly enjoyed every song on this CD. Rich's voice is perfectly suited to these songs and his Broadway background serves him well. I highly recommend both "Ride Away" and "Yondering". You wil not be disappointed!